CHiETUEA PELAGICA, CHIMNEY SWIFT. 267 



The White-throated Swift, for all that is at present known, barely 

 reaches the southern border of the Missouri region, being noted from 

 points in Colorado not far from the headwaters of the Platte. Mr. 

 Aiken records its arrival at Caiion City, April 18 ; Mr. Allen found it 

 somewhat further north, and it probably goes as far at least as the 

 Black Hills. The last-mentioned gentleman's note is as follows : "Ob- 

 served only at the 'Garden of the Gods,' near Colorado City, where a 

 considerable colony were nesting in holes and cpevices in the clifl's, 

 usually far above gunshot. They seemed very shy, and flew mostly 

 near the tops of the highest rocks. Upon ascending the rocks most fre- 

 quented by them, they moved to other points, and thus managed to keep 

 generally out of range. By spending a considerable part of two days, 

 we procured only four specimens, though several others which were 

 killed fell in inaccessible places. They fly with great velocity, and are 

 very tenacious of life. As they swoop down to enter their nests ('al- 

 most with the velocity of a bullet,' he says in a letter), the rushing 

 sound produced by their wings can be heard to a considerable distance. 

 Hirundo thalassina was also breeding here in similar situations." 



'' CH^TUEA PELAGICA, (Linn.) Bd. '- 

 (Jliimney Swift. 



Jlinmdo pelagica, LiNX., Svst. Nat. i, 1758, 192. 



Chcetura pelagica, B. B. & E., N. A. B. ii, 1W4, 432, pi. 45, f. 7. 



" Hirundo carolinensis, Briss., Orn. ii, 1760, 501." 



"Herundo cerdo, Baete., Trav. Fla. 1791, 292.— Baet., Frag. N. H. Pa. 1799, 18." 



Hirundo pelasgia, Linn., Syst. Nat. i, 1766, 345. — Vieill., Oia. Am. Sept. i, 1807, 73, pi. 

 33.— WiLS., Am. Orn. v, 1812, 48, pi. 39, f. 1. 



Cypselua pelasgiiis, Bp., Syn. 1828, 63. — Ntjtt., Man. i, 1832, 609. — AuD., Orn. Biog. ii, 

 1835, 329; v, 1839, 419; pi. 158.— DbKay,N.Y.Zoo1. 1844,pl. 27,f.58.— Maxui., 

 J. f. O. vi, 1858, p. — . 



Cliwlura ])elasgia, Steph., Shaw's Gen. Zool. xiii, 1825, 76. — Bp., Comp. List, 1838, 8. — .^ \- 

 AUD., Syn. 1839, 33; B. Am. i, 1840, 104, pi. 44.— Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 144.— > 

 Hayd., Rep. 1862, 156.— SCL., Cat. 1862, 282; P. Z. S. 1863, 100 ; 1865, 610.— .V' 

 Teippe, Pr. Ess. Inst, vi, 1871, 114 (Minnesota ; not common). — Snow, B. Kans. ^ 

 1873, 3.— AlXEN, Bull. M. C. Z. ii, 1871, 301 ; iii, 1872, 180.— COUES, Key, 1872, XTi? - 

 183, fig. 119 ; and of authors generally. ' 



AcanthjUs pelasgia, Temm.— Bp., Consp. i, 1850, 64. — WooDH., Sitgr. Eep. 1853,63. — "J/^ 

 Cass., 111. i, 1855, 249.— Beew., N. A. Ool. i, 1857, 108. ' 



Hemiprocne pelasgia, Steeubel, Isis, 1848, 362. 



Hah. — Eastern United States and British Provinces. 

 Lieutenant Warren's Expedition. — 4781, Bijoux Hills. 



It is difficult at present to fix the western limit of this species, owing 

 to several circumstances. The accounts of the earlier wiiters, who 

 ascribe to it a range to the Pacific, must remain in abeyance until it is 

 decided whether G. •caiixii be a distinct species or only a variety ; for it 

 is certain that this is the bird they had in view. Others mention its 

 abundance along the eastern base of the Kocky Mountains, and in New 

 Mexico ; I never recognized it in the latter Territory, and I do 7)ot find 

 that later observers, such as Allen, Aiken, and Holden, have there met 

 with it. The westernmost locality of which I am iiersonally cognizant, 

 is that above quoted. Finally, Prof. Snow's remark, that it was form- 

 erly rare, but is now becoming common in Kansas, would appear to 

 indicate a shifting of its western extension, very probably with the 

 advance of civilization. Dr. Haydeu says that it is rare in the north- 

 west, where I have yet to meet with it. I am entirely in the dark re- 

 specting its winter-quarters. I find no mention of its wintering in the 

 United States, and Allen notices its entering Florida late in March j 

 yet after faithful search among the papers of Lawrence, Sclater, SaMn, 

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